Nyquist Doing Well, Heading to Kentucky
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Kenny Martin
Nyquist
Champion Nyquist is doing well the day after his impressive victory in the Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (gr. I) April 2 at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Doug O'Neill returned to his California base late Saturday night, while unbeaten Nyquist will continue on his Triple Crown quest in Kentucky.
"Talking to the crew, he looks good and he ate up well," O'Neill said of Nyquist, who left Gulfstream for Keeneland Sunday morning.
PEDULLA: Nyquist Trounces Mohaymen in Florida Derby
Owned by Reddam Racing, Nyquist was perfect in five 2015 starts and capped his stellar season with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Keeneland. Paul and Zillah Reddam purchased the son of Uncle Mo for $400,000 13 months ago at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale at Gulfstream, and Fasig-Tipton offered a $1 million bonus if a Florida sale graduate captured Gulfstream's marquee event the following year.
Nyquist opened 2016 with a victory in the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 15, and returned to the Sunshine State last week to solidify his credentials for the Triple Crown contests.
BALAN: Nyquist Scores in San Vicente, Still Unbeaten
"We had this plan from after the Breeders' Cup of what we wanted to do and it's all unfolding perfectly," O'Neill said.
Together with the owners, as well as jockey Mario Gutierrez, O'Neill enjoyed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) victories with I'll Have Another in 2012. That experience prepared the California horseman for the challenges Nyquist faces during the duration of his spring campaign.
"It's nothing but great, really," O'Neill said. "It's definitely different with the fact that this guy is undefeated. If it's possible, this might be a touch greater."
Nyquist became the first Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old to capture the Florida Derby since Fly So Free in 1991, and the first Breeders' Cup Juvenile victor to follow up in the Florida Derby since Unbridled's Song in 1996. Now seven-for-seven lifetime, he has earned $2,322,600 on the track for the Reddams.